Earlier this fall, 2013, I was working on the Vision and Values for Eagle LifeChurch (to be announced in January, 2014!). One of the major values was, We are NOT Christians. While the board members understood the meaning, the language was a little startling. We have since edited it to say, No Religious Expectations.

Here is what I think about knowing what is of Christ (Christian) and what is not.

Scripture says,

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)

BUT,

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

Are you a Christian or Not?

The title, “Christian,” has come to describe a religion and religious people. Christ didn’t come to start a religion. Ealge LifeChurch, and the Assemblies of God, is not a religion. Christ came to start a relational, incarnation, movement of servant love.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Unless it is a work of the flesh, which Paul says are obvious, then it should be done “for the Lord.” This makes everything else SACRED, if done unto the Lord. However, if you are working to please people, if you are motivated by a heart of conceit, provocation, or envy, then it is SECULAR – even if people think you are religious.

I choose to describe myself as a follower of Jesus Christ

You may say, that’s what Christian means. Well, that’s what it used to mean. The title “Christian” has become a product, that marketing executives are trying to sell. Have you seen the newest CHRISTIAN MOVIE? Christian t-shirt? Christian music? Christian school? Christian book?

I’m not suggesting we simply change a word and start calling Christian Radio, Follower of Christ Radio. I’m giving testimony to how Christ is changing my heart, and I’m searching for meaningful ways to communicate it, so that I won’t be misunderstood by a skeptical culture.

When I find myself thinking, “I’m Christian,” that’s when I start working to please people. That’s when I get weighed down with the burden of being a “good Christian.” When I actively pursue following Jesus, that’s when I am encouraged and motivated to continue serving and loving even if people aren’t pleased. I am free to bear the fruit of the Spirit, as Christ, His Word, and the Holy Spirit lead me.

In 1988, Carol Wimmer, noticed the early change of the name “Christian” happening in America and wrote this poem, When I Say, I am a Christian:

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost sometimes
That’s why I chose this way”

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble –
needing God to be my guide

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
and pray for strength to carry on

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed
and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
asking humbly to be taught

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
but God believes I’m worth it

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache
which is why I seek God’s name

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority
I only know I’m loved

Copyright 1988 Carol Wimmer

Now, almost 25 years later, I avoid the title Christian to describe myself. Not because of what it meant when the title was first used to describe Jesus disciples, but because of how it is used in our culture today.

Jesus said to his first disciples, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of people.” What we have become, when we think of our selves as Christian, is salesmen. I am not selling a product, I’m lighting the way, learning the truth, and loving the life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.”John 14:6-7

Would you join me in saying, I’m a follower of Jesus Christ!?

*After some research on the quote by Jon Foreman,
lead singer of Switchfoot, I cannot find the original source,
but it is widely attributed to him.

Comments

I loved this well-written, well-thought out article, and I’m happy you’re addressing this. I have many friends who are from other faith traditions or no faith traditions and I see what they are saying about Christians. It has become a toxic word that somehow no longer seems to belong to people who earnestly seek to follow Christ and serve the world in love (I recently saw someone ask where they can hide from “rabid X-ians” until Xmas was over.) It has been hijacked by politics, the media, marketing, radicals and those with agendas that Christ would never recognize. I think we all need to take a hard look at this word and see if it is productive for us to use it. I find myself saying, “Yes, I’m a Christian, but I’m not one of those…” I don’t want to deny Christ, but I also do not want to be seen as aligned with the “rabid X-ians” who are scaring people.

Thanks for your thoughts and for adding to the dialogue. How do we share Christ and bear his light to people, when they have such a negative reaction to the word we use to describe ourselves? It takes a lot of wisdom, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, but it’s okay, if we don’t call ourselves a Christian.

It might have been a rhetorical question, but I’d like to answer your “How do we share Christ and bear his light to people, when they have such a negative reaction to the word we use to describe ourselves?” I can’t speak for others, but can tell you what I do. Because of my world travels and activism in social justice issues, I probably have more friends than usual who are Muslim, Buddhist, pagan, Wiccans, Hindu, Shinto, atheists, etc., so it became necessary for me to decide how I would handle our various faith traditions or lack thereof. For me, the key is respect. In respecting them and their faith tradition or lack thereof, I am showing them love, and that’s what I feel called to do and how I bear Christ’s light. I don’t tell them how wrong they are and that they’re going to hell. I don’t even tell them how they can find Christ unless they tell me they are looking. I try to find common threads in our beliefs and there always are some. For example, I will ask a pagan (or Buddhist, Muslim, etc.) , what would you like me to know about paganism? As they tell me, I will say, “Oh, yes. We have something like that. In fact, the Bible says….” We go back and forth like this, both gaining knowledge. That’s how I share what I believe. And you know what? This mutual respect works because I see that I’ve become a kind of go to person for these people when they want to ask something about Christ or the Bible or even when they are scared and want me to pray to my God because they are not afraid of me. Some of these people have experienced unspeakable pain and insult from “Christians,” so it’s no wonder they are afraid. I hope that being respectful, tolerant and gentle, I can undo some of the damage and that they can feel Christ’s love, mercy and grace through me.

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